How is the heart rate affected by a spinal cord injury?

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Will the vagus nerve be affected or is it something to do with the spinal cord?
It depends a bit on where the injury occurs.

The vagus nerve shouldn't be injured by a spinal cord injury (it comes down with the carotid artery, fairly anterior to the spinal column). The vagus nerve is parasympathetic, secretes acetylcholine and slows the heart rate.

The sympathetic nerves in the thoracic area (I forget the details)... these ARE likely to be severed by a high thoracic spinal cord injury. These secrete norepinephrine and tend to accelerate the heart rate. They also maintain blood vessel tone pretty much everywhere.

So if you cut the spinal cord in such a way that you lose sympathetic function but the vagus is intact... what would you expect to happen to the heart rate?

Good luck!  (+ info)

What are the effects of spinal cord injuries?

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I met the most FANTASTIC little girl the other day! She is 7, and she fell as a baby and suffered some spinal cord injuries that have given her many of the syptoms of Cereberal Palsy. My partner has CP so I am somewhat familiar with it. The little girls walks with crutches, but I heard them saying she may need a wheelchair soon. I know this is a VERY broad question, but I am just looking for people with experience in the situation?
Well, since the spinal cord is affected, it mainly concerns the person's central nervous system. It can affect four areas of the spinal cord: (top to bottom)
1. cranial (everything is affected: mobility, breathing, loss of sensation, paraplegic where limbs cannot function)
2. thoraxic (breathing)
3. lumbar (loss of sensation)
4. sacral (paraplegic)

The little girl could have CP since it is either congenital or acquired. It is best to have her assessed by her medical team.  (+ info)

How to handle weakness due to tethered spinal cord?

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Detethering spinal cord has high risk. Has anyone got his cord detethered with positive results? Can anyone suggest a hospital or surgeon for consultation? Any other suggestions/views are welcome.
I AM IN INDIA AND HAVE BEEN CONSULTING SOME OF THE BEST DOCTORS HERE FOR THE PURPOSE.
Oh dear, where do you live? If we knew we could suggest someone but since we don't??? Try just doing a search and that may pop up a few in your area. I usually go on my medical insurance website and find the nearest doctor. And maybe 2-3 opinions? And, who told you you had a tethered spinal cord? Wouldn't that person direct you to a good hospital or surgeon?  (+ info)

What are the nerves in the spinal cord, and what do they do everyday?

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I want to know the nerve in the spinal cord does, what its calles, what they do everyday, as in, what their job is...
The spinal cord as it leaves the brain controls everything the body does-especially the autonomic systems. You don't have to think to make your heart beat, your brain does that all by itself via these nerves as well as other things like breathing when you are asleep.
Remember the late Christopher Reeve. His central nervous system was interrupted just below the brain. He had to have a machine to breathe for him and a pacemaker to keep his heart beating.  (+ info)

What does it mean if my head hurts really bad along with my spinal cord and lungs?

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For the past night I have not been able to sleep, and it feels like something is moving in my brain/head. My lungs ache, my spinal cord aches, and I feel really dizzy. I have not been throwing up, but I have had diahrrea and I feel really weak. Is this worms? Brain tumor? Please help!
It could be a chest infection because diarrhea and headache sound like flu like symptoms so if it hurts around your chest then that probably means that it's a chest infection. You need to go and see your doctor soon before it gets worse. Don't worry or panic because that will make things things worse and it can be treated easily any way. Hope everything's ok.

God bless!  (+ info)

How are people able to survive a serious spinal cord injury (paralysis)?

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People who survive spinal cord injury and are paralyzed neck down. How do they survive? Internal organs are still working but it wouldnt be long before they die of suffocation. How do they keep them from suffocating. If you dont die of suffocation what would you die of next?
It depends where the injury is located. Breathing is contolled by the brain stem so as long as the injury occurred below that the person will not suffocate. However, the human body is not designed to survive immobile, and extensive medical care is needed for a person to live with serious paralysis.  (+ info)

What dose it mean by scars on the spinal cord?

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I have had chronic horrid back pain for 3 years now, and i have had an mri, and they say there is scars on the spinal cord, maybe down to heavy lifting in the past being a carer, I havent had an operation as they say there is nothing they can do. But i dont understand it at all, what is wrong with me? i have looked on the net, and cant find anything on it.
check out this website and also ask ur doc for more info about it.
http://www.rifeenergymedicine.com/spinalrepair.html  (+ info)

Is this a sign that I could be healing from my spinal cord injury?

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I have a C-5 spinal cord injury, it has been almost 11 months since it happened and over that period of time. I have gained some muscles back that are below my level of injury, such as some abdominal strength, and some muscles in the middle of my back. My fingers have not begun to work just yet. And I still do not have any triceps, but my abdominal muscles have increased quite a bit. Could this be a sign that my spinal cord is starting to heal? I was in a car wreck in November of 2006 and my spinal cord is bruised.
Having had a break at C7 myself several yrs ago. From what i remeber the doctors saying when i had slit problems with moving.
Its sorta like a brain injury. Concusion, only in this case be the spinal cord swelling. So depending on the injury to the amount of swelling. Though i had a break it was a vey minor injury to my spinal cord. Lucky for me.
They explained all about spinal injuries, a really bad bruise can be worse than a breaK sometimes causing all the same symtomps of a break. and also become a permanate injury.
From all what i can remember and what you have said. i'd think the swelling is going down and you are slowly getting back your control of affected muscles. Though how much and what is probably yet to be found out. Also to what percentage you gain back is unknown.
So i wouldn't get my hopes to high, what you have gained back very well my be all you do. then on the other hand maybe you'll gain more.
So Best Wish's  (+ info)

Are there any research studys being don on stem-cell research on spinal cord severation?

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I was in a car wreak that severed my spinal cord and broke my back from t12-t6 and I would be more than willing to go into a study with stem-cell injections in my back if there are any studies available. If anybody knows please help me!
you can google for studies but until obama got elected, the US doesnt allow embryonic stem cell research so other countries are probably ahead of the US  (+ info)

Can popping my neck seriously harm my spinal cord or damage anything other than muscles and ligaments?

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Long question I know but I pop my neck alot! I know I shouldn't and I have recently decided that I am going to try and quit. I say try because it is a very big habit of mine. But my question is can I seriously harm my spinal cord, nerves, or something in my brain? I would prefer qualified answers only...... no opinions please.
I was in a car accident and was treated by a chiropractor for almost a year. Due to his 'popping' my neck I have had 2 cervical spine operations and am disabled for life.

Yes popping a neck is bad. I am an example of what kind of damage popping a neck can do.

I live my life in chronic pain and am only around because of a pain management program I have been in for several years.

I think that's pretty qualified.  (+ info)

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